Chapter: Run Away With Me (Lost Souls in Revelry)
Pairing: Dipper Pines/Pacifica Northwest
Word Count: +2,500 Words
Disclaimer: All properties belong to their rightful owners.


(Your Heart And My Heart Are) Very Old Friends

Chapter II


As the clock by the ticket booth chimes 8 P.M., the subway station comes to life.

Bench-goers jump up and hurry to the booth as everyone clamors to get on board. Eager sightseers push against the crowd of frazzled-looking travelers. Suits tap their watches and shout at each other to pick up the pace, climb on faster.

That's when Pacifica Northwest comes sprinting into the scene with her luggage in tow. She is fifteen years old and running away without a penny in her pocket.

The young girl bobs and weaves her way to the front. Breathless, she elbows anyone who refuses to let her through, but it's too late. The train is preparing to leave.

Pacifica waves her ticket at the conductor in a furious huff. With some very colorful words, she demands that he let her on board right this instant. She makes sure to make her voice as loud and angry-sounding as she can, but it only earns her an annoyed look from the man.

"Please wait for the next train," he sounds stiff and rehearsed.

"Are you deaf? Haven't you been listening to me? I can't! The next one is at ten and I have to - "

"Ma'am, I'm very sorry, but I can't allow you inside."

She puts her hands on her hips and lifts her chin at him. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

The man gives her a tight-lipped smile. "We'll be departing soon. Please wait for the next train." And with that, he leaves.

Pacifica curses.

She's left with not much else to do. And so, in hopes of comfort food, the girl trudges along a Baskin Robbins propped up by the corner of the station. She waits in line and scans the assortment of flavors on display when —

"I'm sorry, sir, but these coupons expired days ago." The clerk is talking to the customer in front of Pacifica.

He is a sinewy teenage boy no older than her, his hands jingling change in his pocket. He frowns at the clerk, "Do you mind checking again?"

The clerk shakes her head. "It expired last Friday, sir."

"Student discount?" He tries.

She shakes her head once more, "Only applies on school days. I'm sorry, sir."

"Oh," the teenager deflates. "S'alright. Sorry to bother you."

He's returning his order to the clerk when Pacifica slides her credit card over on the counter. "Add in two scoops of caramel chocolate crunch and it's on me," she says, her voice honeyed and smooth.

He flashes a sheepish smile at her as the clerk punches in the numbers.

The blonde hands him his mint chocolate chip milkshake with a flirtatious smile. Even puffy-eyed and barefaced, Pacifica knows she doesn't need to try hard to look gorgeous. After all, everyone's been looking her way ever since she walked in here.

(Everyone except him.)

"Thanks for the milkshake," He says, face tinting with the faintest shade of red.

Pacifica gestures towards an empty table by the corner, "Thank me by keeping me company?"

He follows without another word.

The pair sits down in silence. As he is checking his phone, Pacifica looks over her companion with obvious interest. Maybe it's the sweater vest, she thinks.

He looks over to her with a stiff smile. "So..."

The blonde smiles and licks her spoon indulgently. "So?"

Another forced smile. His social skills are pathetic (but oh so charming).

She puts him out of his misery and starts, "So where are you off to?"

"California," he answers, sounding formal.

She steeples her fingers under her chin, leaning in. "Pleasure or business?"

"Neither. I'm a local heading home."

She smiles. "To the land of Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani, then."

One side of his mouth tilts up, "I prefer Tom Waits."

She almost blurts out, "Who?" but decides against it. The girl puts on a laugh of courtesy instead, easing him into the conversation. He gives a small, nervous chuckle of his own.

"So what brought you to Gravity Falls?" She twirls her spoon between her fingers. "I mean, no offense, but it's not like the town's a top-rated tourist attraction or anything."

He rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah, but my great uncles live here, and it's always a lot of fun staying with them. My sister and I come here every summer."

Sister? Pacifica's eyes dart over to his small gym bag and single ticket in hand. "That doesn't explain why you're traveling alone."

"Oh, she wanted to stay behind another week to say goodbye to all her friends."

She raises her eyebrows. "And I suppose you're not leaving anyone behind, then?"

He doesn't answer right away. He fiddles with his watch for a while, swallowing as he feels her eyes on him. Finally, he concedes with a glum sort of almost-smile. "I'm afraid the one who got left behind this time."

She offers him a look of sympathy. "Were you close?"

He nods, "Very." The word hangs in the air as he stirs his drink absently.

"Hey, cheer up and tell me a joke," she nudges him with her spoon.

Bewilderment is evident on his face as he asks, "Shouldn't it be the other one around?"

"Actually, I have a couple of great jokes in mind. But I want you to tell me one of yours first to get a sense of your kind of humor."

"Okay, well, uh..." The boy scratches his chin. "Oh! I have a good one."

"Lay it on me then," she grins and leans closer. As unblinking as his eyes seemed before, up close, they really are the most delicious shade of chocolate brown.

He starts, "A man goes to the doctor and says he's depressed, says that life seems harsh and cruel. He feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain.

The doctor says, 'Oh, treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him, that should pick you up.'

The man bursts into tears and says, 'But doctor — I am Pagliacci.'"

He laughs at his own joke but quickly stops once he realizes he's laughing alone. "Pacifica?"

The girl in question only blinks in response, shell-shocked. As soon as Pacifica picks up her jaw from the floor, she sputters, "Woah."

"Woah?" There is a look of expectation on his face.

"You...You have a very twisted sense of humor."

This seems to alarm him because he begins to apologize profusely. "Sorry, I'm sorry, so sorry. I-I could always — I mean, well, I have a c-couple of chemistry cat jokes that you might like? O-Or Star Wars jokes? I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if you've never seen Star Wars — not that that's a sexist thing! But I mean, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Other than that, all I have left are dad jokes like, 'Hey dad, I'm hungry,' and then 'Hey hungry, I'm dad' or—"

Pacifica bursts out laughing. "Hey, hey, don't worry about it. The joke was great. You caught me off-guard, that's all."

He chuckles nervously.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way but..." She looks up at him with fascination. "I've never talked to someone like you before."

The dimple in his left cheek comes out as he smiles, "A nerd, you mean? Don't worry, I take pride in being a nerd."

She's impressed. "Are you always this dark?"

His smile grows wider. "Oh no, I'm one of a kind."

The smile she flashes him in response is wolfish and sharp, her fingers ghosting over his. "And does that come with a one of a kind name?"

"Not as one of a kind as Pacifica," he teases.

"If you like that, then you'll love my number," she retorts.

Something flickers in his eyes for a second. He furrows his eyebrows at her in deep thought. "You're still flirting with me...Why are you still flirting with me?"

Another smile. "Do you really need to ask wh—"

"I can't believe this!" He snaps, "You don't remember me, do you?"

She's taken aback by his sudden burst of anger. "Sorry, am I supposed to?"

"No," he sighs and slumps back on his chair, dejected. "No, I guess not. I mean, I've known you for three years, but I guess I shouldn't have thought you would..."

"Three years? Are you sure?" She tilts her head in a scrutinizing look. "This whole skater-hipster-brainiac look isn't ringing any bells for me."

He frowns. "And here I thought the whole 'vapid, narcissistic Barbie brat' thing was all a facade."

The insult surprises her, especially coming from this 'stranger'. But what's more surprising is that it actually hurts. "Look, I'm sorry I don't recognize you, but can you at least tell me your name? So I can give you a proper apology."

The only sound between them is the sloshing of his milkshake as he stirs it.

Pacifica sighs in frustration, "Fine, then, be that way. But for what it's worth, I really am sorry, California."

He pauses, still not looking up. "California?"

Her lips quirk up. "It's cute. It suits you."

With a jolt, he looks up at her as if a light bulb went off in his head. "What are you doing here all alone, Pacifica?"

It's her turn to look down in discomfort, "Ah, I was wondering when you'd get around to that."

She laughs but it's a mirthless sound — thick and hollow.

Worry etches onto his face, and she waves her hand with impatience. "I'm traveling alone."

"To where, exactly?"

"Washington."

"What's in Washington?"

She shrugs, "It's not here."

He nods. He's polite enough to disguise it, but she can see the cogs turning in his mind, picking apart her words. "But everything here is home."

She leans over the table with her arms folded. "I always take spontaneous road trips before the end of summer."

He looks quizzical, "Alone?"

"Oh," it seems like her point has finally dawned on him. "So you're looking for a new perspective on things?"

"On life, yes, exactly," she proclaims with delight.

"Cheers to that, then," he lifts his milkshake jokingly. She clinks her ice cream cup with his. "To traveling alone?" She nods, "To traveling alone."

That's when he finally, finally laughs.

It's small and quiet, but it's honest. And it makes her smile, feeling like it might burst through her.

In this moment, she is enjoying herself with a not-quite-stranger, late at night, as summer is about to come to a close. She's just narrowly missed the train, but she's past the point of caring. Because here is a new friend and a new adventure right in front of her.

They swap stories and share ideas for what feels like hours and hours on end, all fireworks and chatter and twinkling eyes. She likes this kind of happy. She thinks maybe she could get used to it.

He glances at his watch. "My train leaves at 9. I better get going."

They both get up from their seats with sad smiles.

"It was nice meeting you, Pacifica." He ruffles his hair, "Even though, you know, I've already met you three years ago."

"You, too," She laughs, a bit embarrassed. "I'll walk with you. I'm waiting by the benches, anyway."

And they make their way outside with unhurried steps. The station has quieted down since the last hour, but the lively noise is still present. The chatter of the people, the shuffle of footsteps against the pavement.

They stop right in front of platform five.

She feels unsure of herself. He seems vulnerable, even shy, as they face the inevitable.

Pacifica bites her lip, putting on a false, bright voice. "I guess this is it?"

"Guess so. I really..." He shuffles his feet. "You know."

Nervous giggles from her. "I know. Me too."

A beat.

"I wish we met earlier," he says.

She doesn't know what to make of the slump in her stomach, so she simply smiles. "I know. Me too."

Neither of them says anything for a long moment, their minds racing.

She tries hard to keep the despondency out of her voice when she tells him, "Get home safely, okay? Hug your family, call your friends, have fun with everything."

"I will. Good luck on your trip and everything. I hope you'll, uh—" he clears his throat. "I hope you'll love it.

There's another tense beat.

"I hate this," he tells her with a pained look on his face.

"I know," she fights the tightness of her throat. "Your train is about to leave."

Her sad, smiling eyes look into his hopeful brown ones. They smile, knowing that they've changed in unexpected ways.

With nothing more to say, they part, and he turns to walk up the stairs to his train car with tentative steps.

Pacifica comes back, breathless. "Wait, wait! I-I..." She blushes uncharacteristically. So does he. "I can't say goodbye when I don't even know your name yet."

He grins despite himself. "Sure you do. I'll give you a clue." He takes out a blue and white cap from his backpack and smirks knowingly.

"What? That makes no sense!" She laughs.

He laughs, too, but the train is sounding behind him. "I'm sorry, I really got to go now." He slings his bag over his shoulder with haste.

And maybe it's wishful thinking, but when he turns to get one last look at here, she sees something like heartbreak on his face.

He tips his hat at her like she's the best show in the world. "I'll see you again sometime, Pacifica?"

She nods happily, and he climbs up the steps once more. This time, he doesn't look back, and the door slides closed behind him. As the train pulls out of the station, she watches it disappear into the horizon, waving goodbye.

Pacifica smiles, "See you next summer, California."


I am so, so super sorry it took me so long to put this next chapter up! I just wasn't feeling particularly inspired or productive for a bit and college was really weighing me down. But thank you so much for being patient with me. I love you all for your kind words, generous compliments, and helpful comments. I know this update is really really overdue (I mean, it's been over nine months!) so please forgive me for being so slow. I might keep editing this again.

'Till next time!

xoxo Amaya